Color television system



Sept. 4, 1951 G. c. szlKLAl 2,565,707

COLOR TELEVISION SYSTEM Filed Nov. 28. 1947 ir.. .Z RED .QQ- -HMPL/F/fk /31 /33 RA 770 DE TE CT IMPL/HER vVENToR.

`Patented Sept. 4, 1951 COLOR TELEVISION SYSTEM.

George C. Szikla, Princeton, N. J., assignm-v to Radio. Corporation .ofl America, a corporation of Delaware Application November`28, 1947, Serial No. 788,746

6` .C laims, (Cl.v 178-5.4)

This-invention relates to methods and-Jarrangements for the transmission of linformation relating to the color of'objeets being televised.

The transmission-of imagesby televisionis now almost universally accomplished by a scanning process which divides anv image into its image elements'and transmits electrical representations of the image elements in rapid sequence to develop at a remote location an imageof the object being scanned.

Twobasic principles of transmission of images in substantiallytheir natural color have been proposed. These: have become commonly known asthesequential'process andthe simultaneous process.

'lheV sequential process of transm-ission of the images transmits, overa single channel, information relating to a single selected component color representationat any one time. Other selectedcomponent colors follow in sequence. Although certain methods of sequential type transmission' have been proposed involving extremely vrapid chang'- ing from one selected component color'to another, the sequential process inherently includes certain fundamental objections which are not present'in the simultaneous type method of color transmission.

The -simultaneous type method for the-transmission of color information for a three-color system simultaneously transmits signals representative of the three different vselected color components oi the object being televised. -In or-A der to transfera reasonable amount of detail, it is, of course, necessary to employ a relatively wide transmission band for the simultaneous. ftype transmission, as compared with that necessary forv black and white transmissions.

It is also necessary that the three independent simultaneous transmissions be received and reproduced with a substantially accurate degree of amplication which, ol course, is influenced by signal fading or other energy transferirregularities when transmission is employed by radiov means. Y

According to this invention, a narrower frequency band is required for the transmission of images in substantially their natural color, and an improved result is obtained regarding the accurate magnitude relations of each of thetransmitted selected component colors. Furthermore, the combined signal is suitable for direct usein blackand white receivers.

According to this invention, a plurality of 'different selected color component signal trainsvv are in substantially `their natural -color 2 developed. Infor-mation is transmitted concerning the magnitude of one` of the signalk trains or all the signa-l trains combined in one, and information is also transmitted regarding the energy ratio between the'signal trains.

A primary object of this invention is to provide for the improved transmission of images in sub-l stantially their natural color.

Other and incidentalv objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following specication and an inspection of the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l illustrates by block diagram one -form of this invention; and

Figures 2 and 3 illustrate by circuit diagramdetails of suitablearrangements which may be employed in the form of the invention shown in Figure l. Y

Turning now in more detail to Figure f1, .there is shown one form of color image pickup arrangement which involves a blank scanning raster producing tube lv which may, for example, take the form of the popular kinescope. Theftube l projects a scanning raster 3 on a color transparency or color nlm 5.

Light from the image 5 is directed to al half*- silvered mirror arrangement including mirrors 4'I and 9. y

Mirrors 'l and 9 may either be of the wellknown half-silvered type, which is partially reflective and partially transmissive to the light, or may, for example, take the form of the popular dichroic type of mirror arrangement which has color selective properties.

If mirror l is oi the half-silvered type, a part of the light from image 5 will be reflected upward through a red filter I i and through a lens I3'to a light responsive device l5. Because of the red filter Il, the light responsive device I5 will respond only to the red color component of the image on the lm 5.

A portion of the light from image 5 will be transmitted directly through mirrors 1 and 9 to a green filter ll, which passes only the green color component of the image on film 5 to the light responsive device i9.

Likewise, a part. of the light coming vthrough mirror 'i will' be reflected from mirror 9 downward through a blue filter 2l, thus causing the blue color component of the image on film 5 to be directed upon a lightsensitive device 23, which l will furnish a signal train representative of the blue color component of the image on lm 5.

An arrangement of this nature for theA developnient of simultaneous type color video signals is well shown and described in an article entitled Simultaneous All-Electronic Color Television, beginning on page 459 of the RCA Review for December 1946-.

Although such an arrangement is shown in Figure 1 for dividing light, it is not intended that this invention be limited to the use thereof, but an arrangement such as shown and described in the U. S. Patent 2,560,351 granted July 10, 1951, to Ray D. Kell and George C. Sziklai, may be employed.

There has been suggested an arrangement for simultaneous pickup of several selected component color images by the use of three independent camera tubes, each having an associated component color lter. Such an arrangement is also suitable for employment in the operation of this invention.

The use of cross dichroic filters, as suggested in the co-pending U. S. application of Alfred C. Schroeder, Serial No. 731,647, filed February 28, 1947, entitled Component Color Separator, is also a suitable arrangement.

Signals representative of the red color component ofthe image on film 5 are amplied in amplier 25. Amplifier 21 is provided for the green color component signals, and amplifier 29 is likewise provided for the blue color component signals.

A signal adder 3|, shown in block in Figure l and shown in detail in Figure 3, is connected to receive signals from amplifiers 25, 21 and 29 to combine or add the red, green and blue representative signals and transmit them to amplifier 33.

A ratio detector 35 is connected to receive and to; determine the ratio between the red signals from ampliiier 25 and the green signals from amplier 21.

A second ratio detector 31 compares and determines a ratio between the green signals from amplifier 21 and the blue signals from amplier 29.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure l, a ratio is determined between the red and green signals, and a second ratio is determined between the green and the blue signals. In another form of this invention not shown in the drawing, a first ratio may be determined between the red signals and the sum of the signals, and a second ratio is determined between the blue signals and the sum of the signals.

Still other arrangements, such as the determination of the ratio between other combinations of selected color component signals, are suggested as still other forms of this invention.

Turning now to Figure 2, there is shown in detail a ratio detector which includes variable p tubes `31 and 39.

The variable ,c tubes 31 and 39 are of the type which produces a logarithmic amplification when employed in combination with diodes 4| and 43.

The logarithmic amplication will become apparent when it is seen that a portion of the output signal is returned to the control electrode ofv tubes 31 and 39 by employment of diodes 4| and 43 and associated resistors 45 and 41.

In a logarithmic amplifier, the output is proportional to the logarithm of the input signal.

` A logarithmic characteristic can be obtained by applying the voltage to be amplified to an amplier consisting of one or severa1 stages employing variable ,L type tubes, such as tube 31. The output of the amplier or, in the example shown, the output of tubes 31 and 39 is then rectiiied in diodes 4| and 43, respectively, and the resulting D.C. current is used to provide what may be called an automatic volume control action that controls the ampliiication of the variable a tubes 31 and 39 so that the output tends to be constant,

with wide variations in input signal voltage.

The logarithmic amplier including tube 39 is connected to a unity gain amplier including tube 49.

The output signal of logarithmic amplifier including tube 31 is combined with the signal of 'unity gain amplier 49 to furnish a signal at the control electrode of tube 5| equal to the logarithm of the red signal, less the logarithm of the green signal, for example.

The variable n tube 5|, which is employed as an anti-log. amplifier, is provided with a diode 53 and associated resistor 55 to produce anti-log. amplication in a manner similar to that ob tained in tubes 31 and 39.

The ratio detector shown in Figure 2 is one form of suitable ratio detector. Another and perhaps simpler type of ratio detector is shown and described in my co-pending U. S. application entitled Color Television System, Serial No. 788,747 filed November 28, 1947.

Turning now to Figure 3, there is shown one form of signal adder which is suitable for employment in block 3| of Figure 1. The tubes 6|, 63 and 65 are connected to have a common parallel output with separate and individual inputs.

The green signal is applied to the control electrode of 6| the red signal is applied to the control electrode of tube 63, while the blue signal is applied to the control It will be seen that the video output signal obtained from the plates of tubes 6|, 63 and 65 will'therefore be the sum of the green. red and blue signals.

Although suitable tube types, resistance, in,

ductance and capacity values are indicated on the drawing, they are shown merely for purposes of example, and it is not intended that this invention should be limited to the use thereof. Any suitable values and tube types may be employed without departing from the spirit of this invention.

The form of the invention shown in Figure l shows the determination for a ratio signal train of the signal energy between'the red and the green components, and for another ratio signal train, the ratio signal energy between the green and the blue components. In another form of the invention, the ratio signal trains may be formed by comparing the red and the green com-r ponents to form one ratio signal train and comparing the red and the blue components to form another signal train. Likewise, in still another form, one ratio may be determined between the green and the blue, and another ratio between the red and the blue. ratios may be determined between the red signal and the total signal derived from the signal adder 3|, and the blue signal and the total signal derived from the signal adder 3|. 4

The signal trains obtained from the practice of thisinvention may be transmitted or other:

wise utilized for the reproduction of images in substantially their natural color at remote lo-v cations.

'I'he information transmitted includes a signal train derived from the signal adder 3|, which contains the sum of all the selected component color representative signal trains. At the receiv-H ing station, the signal intelligence is converted` electrode of tube 65.V

In still another form,`

to image intelligence by the employment of the composite or added signal obtained from signal adder '3 I ,together with the ratiozsignals, Lto'iform three separate and independent signal trains representative of the selected component colors of the image or object being televised.

The converted signals derived from the signals transmitted by the circuit illustrated inFigure 1 can be converted into the common type of simultaneous type color signals suitable for reproduction in any of the Well-known manners, such as, for example, the television receiver shown and described in the RCA Review for December 1946.

The signals may also be utilized directly in a receiver employing the circuit arrangement shown and described in my co-pending U. S. application, Serial No. 788,747, iiled November 28, 1947, which shows in its various forms methods and circuit arrangements for the reproduction of images from a plurality of signal trains including a combined signal, together with one or more ratio signals.

Although a flying spot arrangement is shown in Figure l for the generation of component color representative signal trains, other arrangements may be employed for converting color images into independent color representative signal trains, such as three separate mechanically assocated component color cameras. Other image splitting arrangements may be used without departing from the spirit of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A color television system comprising in combination means for developing a rst video signal train representative of one selected color component of an object being televised, means for developing a second video signal train representative of a second color component of said object being televised, a signal ratio detector having an output circuit and a pair of input circuits, a connection between one of said input circuits and one of said means for developing video signal trains, a connection between the other input circuit and the other of said means for developing video signal trains, a signal utilization channel connected to one of said means for developing video signal trains, and another signal utilization channel connected to said output circuit of said signal ratio detector.

2. A color television system comprising means for developing a video signal train for each of a plurality of selected color components of an object being televised, a signal ratio detector having an output circuit and a pair of input circuits. a connection between one of said pair of input circuits and one of said means for developing video signal trains, a connection between the other one of the pair of input circuits and another of said means for developing video signal trains, an output signal channel connected to one of said means for developing video signal trains, and another output signal channel connected to said output circuit of said signal ratio detector.

3. A color television system comprising in combination means for developing a rst video signal train representative of one selected color component of an object being televised, means for developing a second video signal train representative of a second color component of said object being televised, a signal adder for combining said video signal trains, a signal ratio detector having an output circuit and a pair of input cir- 6 cuits, a connection between one of said pair of input circuits and one of said means for developing video signal trains, a `connection between the other one of the pair of input circuits `and the other of said means for developing video signal trains, an output signal channel connected to said signal adder, and another output 4signal channel connected to said Aoutput circuit ofsaid signal ratio detecten l 4. A-color televisionsystem comprising means for developing a video signal train for each of a plurality of vselected color components of an object being televised, a signal adder for l'combining said video signal trains, a signal ratio detector having an output circuit and a pair of input circuits, a connection between one of said pair of input circuits and one of said means for developing video signal trains, a connection between the other one of the pair of input circuits and another of said means for developing video signal trains, an output signal channel connected to said signal adder, and another output signal channel connected to said output circuit of said signal ratio detector.

5. A color television system comprising in combination means for developing a first video signal train representative of one selected color component of an object being televised, means for developing a second video signal train representative of a second color component of said object being televised, means for developing a third video signal train representative of a third color component of said object being televised, a signal ratio detector having an output circuit and a pair of input circuits, a connection between one of said pair of input circuits and said means for developing a iirst video signal train, a connection between the other one of the pair of input circuits and said means for developing a second video signal train, a second signal ratio detector having an output circuit and a pair of input circuits, a connection between one of said pair of input circuits of said second signal ratio detector and said means for developing a rst video signal train, a connection between the other one of the pair of input circuits of said second signal ratio detector and said means for developing a third video signal train, an output signal channel connected to said means for developing a first Video signal train, and an output signal channel connected to said output circuit of each of said signal ratio detectors.

6. A color television system comprising in combination means for developing a first video signal train representative of one selected color component of an object being televised, means for developing a second video signal train representative of a second color component of said object being televised, means for developing a third video signal train representative of a third color component of said object being televised, a signal adder for combining said video signal trains, a connection between said signal adder and said means for developing video signal trains, a signal ratio detector having an output circuit and a pair of input circuits, a connection between one of said pair of input circuits and said means for developing a rst video signal train, a connection between the other one of the pair of input circuits and said means for developing a second video signal train, a second signal ratio detector having an output circuit and a pair of input circuits, a connection between one of said pair of input circuits of said second 'signal ratio detector and said means for devi-slopingr a irst video signal train, a connection between the other one of the pair of input circuits of said second signal ratio detector and Said means for developing a third video signal train, an output signal channel connected to said signal adder, and an output signal channel connected to said output circuit of each of said signal ratio detectors.

GEORGE C2 SZIKLAI.

REFERENCES CITED Number Number 8. UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Valens May 15, 1945 Goldsmith July 8, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain May 11, 1939 

